A warm, ghee-rich festive sweet made with rice, dal, and jaggery.
Sweet Pongal (Sakkarai Pongal) is a cherished South Indian dish traditionally prepared during Pongal and auspicious occasions. It brings together rice, moong dal, jaggery, milk, and generous amounts of ghee — creating a soft, melt-in-the-mouth sweet that feels festive with every bite. Lightly flavoured with cardamom and enriched with fried nuts and coconut, this classic dessert is comforting, rich, and absolutely divine.
Sweet Pongal provides a wholesome blend of energy-giving carbohydrates from rice and jaggery, gentle plant protein from moong dal, and healthy fats from ghee and nuts. Jaggery supports digestion and provides minerals, while cardamom and ghee make the dish easier on the stomach. A festive, nourishing sweet made the traditional way.
Wash and soak rice and moong dal together for 10 minutes.
Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a kadai. Fry cashews, badam, and pistachios; transfer to a bowl. Fry raisins in the same ghee and keep aside. Fry grated coconut in the remaining ghee and keep aside.
In a thick-bottom vessel, bring the milk + water mixture to a boil. Add soaked rice and dal. Cook on medium heat until fully soft.
Once cooked, add jaggery and mix well. Cook on low flame until the mixture thickens and blends beautifully.
Add the fried nuts, raisins, coconut, and cardamom. Add the remaining ghee and cook for a few more minutes on low flame. Sweet Pongal is ready.
Sweet Pongal is ready👍🏻
Serving Suggestions: Serve warm with a drizzle of ghee. Pair with medhu vadai for a festive platter. Enjoy with banana slices on the side for a traditional touch.
Use jaggery syrup (filtered) if your jaggery has impurities.
You can even add a few strings of safron that will enhance the flavour.
Replace milk with water for a vegan version (using coconut oil instead of ghee).
Increase milk for a creamier, richer pongal.
Add a pinch of edible camphor for temple-style flavour.
Lalitha Ramachandran
Wishing you a happy and prosperous Pongal mam .
May the sweetness of Pongal fill your life with happiness and success.